Part 7

The city sends two citizens to parliament: the right of election being in the freeholders, and such freemen only, as are entered upon the books, and do not receive alms, March 12, 1701.

Norwich first sent representatives in 1295, 23d Edw. I. and the number of voters are about 3300.

The following are the number of votes polled by the freemen and freeholders in the several wards and hamlets belonging to the city and county of Norwich, in London and the country, at the contested election, March 18, 1768, for representatives in parliament.

Candidates Harbord Harbord, Esq; of Gunton Edward Bacon, Esq; of Earlham Thomas Beevor, Esq; of Hethel

Harb. Bac. Beevor. Conisford ward 250 228 195 Mancroft ward 288 212 213 Wymer ward 435 387 241 Ward beyond the water 375 334 309 Hamlets 60 54 42 Precinct of the Close 31 35 6 Country 268 244 125 London 105 102 5 Total 1812 1596 1136

Sir Harbord Harbord, Bart. and Edward Bacon, Esq; are the two present Representatives for this city. 1783.

By a general account of the Poor-Rate taken in 1776, it appears, that the city and county of Norwich pays £12,403 15s. 2d.

It is not unworthy of remark, that there are sixteen public clocks in this City, the dial-plates of which are said to front the Cardinal points, four each way.

CORRECT LIST of the PARISHES in NORWICH.

With the present Incumbents and Patrons.

PARISH. INCUMBENT. PATRON. St. Andrew C. Jacob Mountain, 1782 The Inhabitants in litigation St. Benedict R. or P. C. Richard Tapps 1737 Ditto St. Clement at the R. Charles Carver 1766 Gonville and Bridge Caius Coll. Cambridge St. Augustine R. John Brooke, 1733 Dean and D.D. Chapter of Norwich St. Giles R. or P. C. John Smyth, 1781 Ditto D.D. St. Edmund R. Thomas Beckwith 1781 Rev. Thomas Beckwith St. Etheldred C. John Brooke, 1746 Mayor and D.D. Aldermen of Norwich St. George Colegate C. Richard Tapps 1752 Dean and Chapter of Norwich St. George Tombland C. John Green 1756 Bishop of Ely St. Gregory C. Michael Brown 1781 Dean and Chapter of Norwich St. Helen, in C. Thomas Wigg 1775 Mayor and Holm-street Hancock Aldermen of Norwich St. John R. Henry Bathurst, 1775 New College, Maddermarket D.D. Oxford St. John Sepulchre C. Ephraim Megoe 1738 Dean and Chapter of Norwich St. John Timberhill C. John Walker 1781 Ditto St. James C. James William 1776 Ditto Newton All Saints, with R. Stephen Buckle, 1768 Charles Buckle, St. Julian and St. jun. Esq; Edward St. Lawrence R. Robert Parr 1775 The Crown St. Mary in Coslany C. Stephen Buckle 1761 Lord Viscount Townshend St. Margaret R. John Blackburn 1739 Bishop of Westwick Norwich St. Martin at the C. Ephraim Megoe 1733 Dean and Oak Chapter of Norwich St. Martin by the C. Thomas Beckwith 1781 Ditto Palace St. Michael Coslany R. Samuel Story 1774 Gonville and Caius Coll. Cambridge St. Michael at R. Thomas Wigg 1775 Sir Lambert Pleas Hancock Blackwell, Bart. St. Michael at P. C. Daniel 1762 Earl of Thorn Fromanteel Buckinghamshire St. Paul C. James William 1776 Dean and Newton Chapter of Norwich St. Peter per C. John Walker 1781 Ditto Mountergate St. Peter of C. John Peele, 1767 Feoffees and Mancroft upper Minster Inhabitants 1781 Hen. Harington, under Min. St. Peter of C. Thomas Pryce, 1774 Bishop of Hungate Cur. and Seq. Norwich St. Peter of C. John Brooke, 1738 Ditto Southgate D.D. St. Saviour C. Richard Tapps 1752 Dean and Chapter of Norwich St. Simon and Jude R. John Burcham 1736 Bishop of Norwich St. Stephen V. Henry 1773 Dean and Carrington Chapter of Norwich St. Swithin C. John Blackburn 1738 Bishop of Norwich St. Mary in the C. James Willins 1771 Dean and Marsh Chapter of Norwich Hamlets within the Liberties of the City and County. Earlham V. John Offley 1758 Edward Bacon, Esq; Eaton V. Michael Brown 1781 Dean and Chapter of Norwich Heigham R. Robert Parr 1781 Bishop of Norwich Lakenham V. Charles Millard 1772 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

Part of the Parishes of Hellesden, Catton, Sprowston, Thorpe, and Trowse, belong to the county of the city of Norwich, viz. Trowse-Millgate, Carrowe, Bracondale, &c.

Norwich, 43 miles north of Ipswich, 42 east of Lynn-Regis, and 108 miles from London, near the conflux of the Yare, and another river called the Wensom; 30 miles from the sea by water, and 18 by land; is a famous ancient city, which had a castle so long ago as the 7th century. It was even in Cambden’s time reckoned among the most considerable cities in Britain, for the industry of its citizens, their loyalty to their prince, and civility to foreigners; as well as for its wealth, number of people, and the neatness of their buildings.

It stands on the side of a hill, one mile and a half from north to south, but little more than half as broad. It was first destroyed, by Sweno the Dane, but recovered so soon, that, in the reign of Edward the Confessor, it had 1320 burghers; but in the reign of William the Conqueror, it being the seat of a civil war raised against him by the earl of the East-Angles, it was so impaired at to be reduced to 560 at most.

The Cathedral was founded here in 1096, by Herbert Lozinga, on the translation of the bishop’s see hither from Thetford.

This place was built anew and first made a corporation by king Stephen, who granted it to his son for an appendage; but Henry II. took it from him, though Henry his son, then aspiring to the crown, had fully promised it to Hugh Bigot, earl of Norfolk, who miserably harrassed the city, and is thought to have rebuilt the castle on the hill, which is encompassed with a very deep trench, over which there is a strong bridge, of one very large arch; but Lewis of France, under whom the barons confederated against king John, besieged and took it.

This city having been all along governed by bailiffs, Henry IV. made it a county of itself, and gave the inhabitants leave to chuse a mayor and two sheriffs; and they built a beautiful town-house near the market-place.

In 1348, near 58,000 people died here of a pestilence; and in 1505, it was almost entirely consumed by fire. Though, as it has been said, it is a populous city, yet there is void enough in it for another colony; and from the intermixture of its houses with trees, it is called “a city in an orchard.”

It adds much to the trade of Yarmouth by the vast cargoes of coal, wine, fish, oil, and all other heavy goods, which come to it from thence by the river Yare. Its manufactures are generally sent to London, though considerable quantities are exported from Yarmouth to Holland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Spain, &c. It had a flint-stone wall, now much decayed, three miles in compass, which was finished in 1309, and had 40 towers. The city is now reckoned six miles in compass: it has twelve gates, and six bridges over the Yare; above 7500 houses, and 45,000 inhabitants. It had 58 parochial churches and chapels formerly, besides monasteries, and now has 34 churches, besides the cathedral, chapels, and four dissenting meeting-houses. The roof of the cathedral (whose steeple is 509 feet high) is adorned with historical passages of the Bible, expressed in little images. St. Peter’s of Mancroft is esteemed one of the handsomest parish churches in England. There are two churches for the Dutch and French-Flemings, who have singular privileges, which are strictly preserved. Most of the churches are crusted with flints curiously cut. The castle is the common goal for the county. Its Guildhall was formerly a monastery, and afterwards the toll-booth. In 1413, the present fabric was finished, and the city records deposited therein. It is an irregular but commodious building, having many suitable apartments, and some good pictures.

The Bridewell, which is a very large and curious building, is of square flint and stone; and in 1736, the lofty market-cross, of free-stone, was taken down.—Here is that called the King’s School, founded by Edward VI. for teaching grammar learning to boys that are nominated by the mayor and aldermen.

Here are four hospitals; one of them, St. Giles’s, founded originally for the entertainment of strangers, was, by Henry VIII. appropriated to the poor of the city; and here are maintained 80 poor men and women, who are all cloathed in grey, and must be sixty years old. There is another for 16 poor men and eight women, whose livery is purple. The boys and girls hospital contain 30 of each, and the boys are from hence put out apprentices. Here are besides 12 charity schools, where 300 boys and 150 girls are taught, cloathed and supplied with books.

It is governed by a mayor, recorder, steward, two sheriffs, 24 aldermen, and 60 common council-men; with a town-clerk, sword-bearer, &c. The mayor, who is always chosen by the freemen on May-day, out of two aldermen, whom they then return to the court, is sworn into his office with great pomp, on the Tuesday before Midsummer eve. He is, during his year, a justice of the peace, and of the quorum, (as are also the recorder and steward) within the city and its liberties; and after his mayoralty, he is justice of the peace for life. Two silver maces are always borne before the mayor, gilt and finely chased.

The sheriffs are also annually elected, one by the aldermen, the other by the freemen, on the last Tuesday in August, and sworn September 29. The common council are chosen in Mid-lent. The sheriffs are obliged by their charter to present the king with twelve herring pies yearly, on the 23d of October, this city being possessed of the manor of Carlton, whose lord holds it by that tenure.

The worsted manufacture, for which this city has long been famous, and in which even children earn their bread, was first brought over by the Flemings, in the reign of Edward III. and afterwards very much improved by the Dutch, who fled from the duke of Alva’s persecution, and being settled here by queen Elizabeth, taught the inhabitants to make says, baize, serges, shalloons, &c. in which they carry on a vast trade, both at home and abroad, and weave camblets, druggets, crapes, and other stuffs, of which it is said this city vends to the value of 200,000l. a year.

The weavers here employ spinners all the country round; and also use many thousand packs of yarn spun in other counties. By a late calculation, from the number of looms at work in this city only, it appeared that there were no less than one hundred thousand people employed in their manufactures of wool, silk, &c. in and about the town, including those employed in spinning the yarn used for such goods as are made in the city.

The inhabitants are generally so employed in their manufactures within doors, that this appears a melancholy place, except on Sundays and public days, when the streets swarm with them.

By an act in 1726, certain duties are laid on goods brought into this city, for the repair of its bridges, walls, gates, the staiths, wharfs and roads.—Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a market for horses and cattle every Saturday on the Castle Ditches; also the following fairs, viz. Maundy Thursday, and Saturday before Whitsuntide, on Tombland; Easter and Whitsun Monday and Tuesday, without Bishopsgate; St. Faith’s, the Tuesday after St. Michael, and Maudlin, or St. Mary Magdalen.

The Yare, which runs through the city, is navigable so far without the help of locks.

The Shire house of the county, that stood on the hill near the castle, having been burnt down by accident, an act of parliament passed in 1746/7, for holding the summer assizes and general quarter sessions in the city, till a new Shire-house was rebuilt; and for raising money to defray the charge of it.—On a hill on the other side of the river, are the remains of the castle of Kett, the tanner, of Wymondham, by whose rebellion, in the reign of Edward VI. this city was reduced to a ruinous state.

In the suburbs were formerly three parochial churches, besides three chapels, a nunnery with its church, a priory and church, an hospital and chapel, and five leper houses at the gates, with their chapels; and the Jews had once a synagogue here.

Besides the cathedral, castle, guild-hall, bridewell, churches, and other public buildings already mentioned, the bishop hath a palace on the north side of the cathedral, to which belong gardens elegantly laid out. The Free Grammar-school near this, is a neat spacious gothic building, formerly used as the charnel-house. The Deanry, and its offices, are situated in the Close; but neither these, or the Prebendaries, have any pretensions to uniformity.

The New Hall in St. Andrew’s, in which the Mayor’s guild-feasts are held, is a very handsome building, fifty yards long and thirty wide. It was founded about the year 1428, and was the place where the company of St. George used to hold their meetings of business and pleasure. It is now the common hall of the city, and is decorated with portraits of many eminent persons.

The Norfolk and Norwich Hospital was built by voluntary subscription in 1772. It is a very neat edifice, well supported, and properly conducted.—Bethel is an hospital for lunatics, founded in 1713, under good regulation.—What is called the Duke’s Palace, and now converted into a workhouse for the poor, was formerly the residence of the dukes of Norfolk.

Cooke’s Hospital, in the Rose-lane, maintains ten poor women; and Doughty’s, which was founded in 1687, supports 24 poor men and eight women.

The city prison is opposite the Guild-hall: It is a close building, where debtors and the felons are kept.

The quarter-sessions of Norfolk is held at the Castle in January, April, July, and October; and also for the city of Norwich. The Lent assize of the county is held at Thetford and the summer assize at Norwich; at which, also, the city prisoners are tried.

The Theatre-Royal was erected upon patent in 1768, and is a handsome house. The Assembly-Rooms next it are spacious and brilliant; and the Concert-Room, in Redwell-street, is well attended weekly:—supported by a subscription of its members.

The public gardens are Bunn’s, or the Pantheon, formerly Spring Gardens; and Quantrell’s, or the Rural Gardens. These, particularly in the assize week, are much frequented, and concerts of vocal and instrumental music given.

Mr. Arthur Young, in his Tour through the East of England, (1771) says, “The city of Norwich is one of the most considerable in England after London; it stands on more ground than any other, but in number of inhabitants, some others assert an equality. By an accurate account taken a few years ago, the number reckoned by the houses amounted to forty thousand; but by the bills of mortality only to thirty-six thousand; the average therefore of these (thirty-eight thousand) may be taken as more probable than either.”

In July, 1752, a parochial list was taken of the number of houses and inhabitants within the city of Norwich, precincts of the Close, and the hamlets or suburbs belonging to the said city, as followeth: By comparing of which with the account of the inhabitants taken in 1693, inserted in the 3d column, we shall see how greatly the number of the people has been increased in the course of sixty years, owing to the prodigious extension of its trade during that period.

No. of Houses. No. of Souls. No. Souls in 1693. St. Peter of 72 425 470 Southgate St. Etheldred 57 247 243 St. Julian 126 595 563 St. Peter per 327 1408 1376 Mountergate St. John 158 1004 781 Sepulchre St. Michael at 273 1127 865 Thorn St. John 200 890 668 Timberhill All Saints 106 578 425 St. Stephen 402 2314 1769 St. Peter of 420 2288 1953 Mancroft St. Giles 195 961 910 St. Benedict 127 715 652 St. Swithin 141 751 496 St. Margaret 223 856 664 St. Lawrence 176 952 668 St. Gregory 248 1002 772 St. John 135 1107 657 Maddermarket St. Andrew 236 1334 935 St. Michael at 113 482 479 Pleas St. Peter 90 341 267 Hungate St. Simon and 84 420 362 Jude St. George 161 737 722 Tombland St. Martin at 167 1083 819 Palace St. Helen 80 386 338 St. Michael 244 1046 1026 Coslany St. Mary 236 1178 949 St. Martin at 351 1698 1243 the Oak St. Augustine 266 1226 850 St. George 259 1295 1151 Colegate St. Clement 123 816 593 St. Edmund 108 520 370 St. Saviour 162 810 710 St. Paul 292 1461 983 St. James 166 696 416 Pockthorpe 137 1116 732 Heigham 164 653 544 Lakenham 35 165 221 Eaton 39 226 153 Earlham 9 68 50 Hellesdon 12 70 65 Thorpe in the 5 36 69 liberty of Norwich Trowse, 85 386 258 Carrowe, and Bracondale Precinct of the 129 700 650 Close Total 7139 36169 28882

Seven or eight hundred souls are supported in the two work-houses at about 10,000l. a year, in all expences; and near 3000l. yearly is paid in weekly allowances to poor out of the houses.